Comments on: Queens And Snails http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/ Official site of Shaun Groves - musician, speaker, advocate for children living in poverty Wed, 23 May 2012 23:21:15 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Alexis http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5878 Alexis Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:57:06 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5878 <p>Hi, nice post! Your hard work paid off </p> Hi, nice post! Your hard work paid off

]]> By: Noelle http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5877 Noelle Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:44:45 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5877 <p>I was heard a story about a man who had a son. The son got sick and the people told the man, “That’s too bad.” But the man said, “Maybe it’s good. Maybe it’s bad. We don’t know.” The next day, his village was attacked and all the men had to go to war. The people told the man he was blessed b/c his son didn’t have to go. Again he said, “Maybe it’s good. Maybe it’s bad. We don’t know.” <br /> The story goes back and forth like that, with the people pronouncing judgements about circumstances and the father telling them that we don’t have the wisdom to see if something is ultimately good or bad. <br /> I think the same principle applies here. We don’t have the wisdom to see what Prosperity really is. I’m pretty sure that Mother Teresa, even though she had nothing, was pretty blessed. </p> I was heard a story about a man who had a son. The son got sick and the people told the man, “That’s too bad.” But the man said, “Maybe it’s good. Maybe it’s bad. We don’t know.” The next day, his village was attacked and all the men had to go to war. The people told the man he was blessed b/c his son didn’t have to go. Again he said, “Maybe it’s good. Maybe it’s bad. We don’t know.”

The story goes back and forth like that, with the people pronouncing judgements about circumstances and the father telling them that we don’t have the wisdom to see if something is ultimately good or bad.

I think the same principle applies here. We don’t have the wisdom to see what Prosperity really is. I’m pretty sure that Mother Teresa, even though she had nothing, was pretty blessed.

]]> By: Beth C http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5876 Beth C Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:51:46 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5876 <p>I know I’m a few days late on this discussion, but I’m very intrigued by it. My husband always says that if you go to most evangelical churches in America today, you’ll become convinced that God specializes in “real estate miracles” because you’re always hearing about how God has done a miraculous work in providing some beautiful big house for someone… </p> I know I’m a few days late on this discussion, but I’m very intrigued by it. My husband always says that if you go to most evangelical churches in America today, you’ll become convinced that God specializes in “real estate miracles” because you’re always hearing about how God has done a miraculous work in providing some beautiful big house for someone…

]]> By: Bill http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5875 Bill Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:19:17 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5875 <p>God answered, “The righteous will live by their faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) </p> <p> Habakkuk 3:1-2 & 17-19, This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:  </p> <p> “I have heard all about you, LORD, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy.” </p> <p> ...But… </p> <p> 17 “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.” </p> God answered, “The righteous will live by their faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)

Habakkuk 3:1-2 & 17-19, This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk: 

“I have heard all about you, LORD, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy.”

…But…

17 “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”

]]> By: Brad http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5874 Brad Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:40:48 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5874 <p>So where does one draw the line between saying something is a “God Thing” and something “just happens”? Since God is sovereign, does that mean he is “in everything"… good, bad and ugly? Even the mundane? </p> <p> “I was able to walk down stairs this morning.” Maybe for someone who was never supposed to be able to walk again that’s a God Thing, but for me, an everyday guy, is it? </p> <p> Hey side note, possibly for a future blog Shaun, do you think God conforms to and works within culture, or does he work to change culture to be “better”? (Meaning, give freedom, end slavery, end poverty etc.) If God could give humans one world culture, his culture, what would it look like? Would it look like early Judaism and multiple wives, or “Christian America” (which I don’t believe is true) that we have today? I know we blew it with his original culture back in the Garden, but with sin in the world… what would “God’s Culture” look like? </p> <p> --Brad </p> So where does one draw the line between saying something is a “God Thing” and something “just happens”? Since God is sovereign, does that mean he is “in everything”… good, bad and ugly? Even the mundane?

“I was able to walk down stairs this morning.” Maybe for someone who was never supposed to be able to walk again that’s a God Thing, but for me, an everyday guy, is it?

Hey side note, possibly for a future blog Shaun, do you think God conforms to and works within culture, or does he work to change culture to be “better”? (Meaning, give freedom, end slavery, end poverty etc.) If God could give humans one world culture, his culture, what would it look like? Would it look like early Judaism and multiple wives, or “Christian America” (which I don’t believe is true) that we have today? I know we blew it with his original culture back in the Garden, but with sin in the world… what would “God’s Culture” look like?

–Brad

]]> By: RevJeff http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5873 RevJeff Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:22:10 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5873 <p>It took two and a half years to sell our house ... and finally for much less than we were expecting… </p> <p> “That’s so God!” </p> It took two and a half years to sell our house … and finally for much less than we were expecting…

“That’s so God!”

]]> By: Linda Sue http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5872 Linda Sue Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:01:57 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5872 <p>Ub is not new evangelical slang - I messed up - how human of me!  In agreement with the above mentioned people </p> Ub is not new evangelical slang – I messed up – how human of me!  In agreement with the above mentioned people

]]> By: Linda Sue http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5871 Linda Sue Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:00:52 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5871 <p>Ub agreement with Kenyon and Nancy Tyler - I also know personally the God thing in loss.  It is just SO like God to take my beloved husband home to be with Him - because He loved him long before I existed.  Yes I’ve been known to use “God slang” - maybe if the term Awesome weren’t so trivialized we’d recall Jesus is not my boyfriend, God is not my daddy-o and the Holy Spirit is within me as a seal of my eternal life.  It IS a God thing when you house sells, your dog dies and oh yeah -remember that original sin thing - it really happened. <br /> Whew ::::stepping offa soap box - dizzy up there::::: hit my button didn’t ya? </p> Ub agreement with Kenyon and Nancy Tyler – I also know personally the God thing in loss.  It is just SO like God to take my beloved husband home to be with Him – because He loved him long before I existed.  Yes I’ve been known to use “God slang” – maybe if the term Awesome weren’t so trivialized we’d recall Jesus is not my boyfriend, God is not my daddy-o and the Holy Spirit is within me as a seal of my eternal life.  It IS a God thing when you house sells, your dog dies and oh yeah -remember that original sin thing – it really happened.

Whew ::::stepping offa soap box – dizzy up there::::: hit my button didn’t ya?

]]> By: Kenyon http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5870 Kenyon Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:35:01 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5870 <p>Despite the fact that I am intimidated by Mr. Groves stature I must say that I am in agreement with what Nancy Tyler says. And with her experience how could I disagree. Thanks Nancy. </p> Despite the fact that I am intimidated by Mr. Groves stature I must say that I am in agreement with what Nancy Tyler says. And with her experience how could I disagree. Thanks Nancy.

]]> By: Nancy Tyler http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5869 Nancy Tyler Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:53:00 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/2008/06/queens-and-snails/#comment-5869 <p>I’ve always thought of my husband’s illness and death as a “God thing.” </p> <p> A young, vibrant man, a majority of whose waking moments were involved in ministry to church kids and poor gang families...why would he get sick months before his wedding day and die five years later at the age of just 29? I’ve never seen it as anything but a “God thing.” God had reasons--and I’ll never know them all here, confined to gravity and my small human brain--why He caused Mike’s life to burn white-hot for Him and then end young and with incredible suffering. </p> <p> To me, anything that displays God’s glory, mercy, justice, patience or power is a “God thing.” A house that sells fast. A house that lingers on the market. A young death. A hundredth birthday. An average day. Everything is purposeful in God’s economy. </p> I’ve always thought of my husband’s illness and death as a “God thing.”

A young, vibrant man, a majority of whose waking moments were involved in ministry to church kids and poor gang families…why would he get sick months before his wedding day and die five years later at the age of just 29? I’ve never seen it as anything but a “God thing.” God had reasons–and I’ll never know them all here, confined to gravity and my small human brain–why He caused Mike’s life to burn white-hot for Him and then end young and with incredible suffering.

To me, anything that displays God’s glory, mercy, justice, patience or power is a “God thing.” A house that sells fast. A house that lingers on the market. A young death. A hundredth birthday. An average day. Everything is purposeful in God’s economy.

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